Nomenclature
CAS number: 74-85-1
Ethene; elayl; olefiant gas.
C
2H
4; mol wt 28.05.
C 85.64%, H 14.37%.
CH
2=CH
2.
Description and references
Plant hormone; occurs in ripening fruit, in
illuminating gas (up to 4%). Prepd by decompn of petr gases or by
dehydration of alcohol. Lab prepn from alc: Gattermann-Wieland, Praxis des Organischen Chemikers (de Gruyter,
Berlin, 40th ed, 1961) p 98; F. A. Wunder, E. I. Leupold, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 19, 126
(1980). Biosynthesis from 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid:
D. Adams, S. F. Yang, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.
USA 76, 170 (1979). Proposed mechanism of
biosynthesis: M. C. Pirrung, J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 105, 7207 (1983). Toxicity data: Flury, Arch. Exp. Pathol. Pharmakol. 138, 65 (1928). Comprehensive monograph: S. A. Miller, Ethylene and its Industrial Derivatives (Ernest
Benn Ltd., London, 1969) 1321 pp. Review of ethylene in biological
systems: Spencer, Fortschr. Chem. Org. Naturst. 27, 31-80 (1969); of manuf: Faith, Keyes & Clark's Industrial Chemicals, F. A.
Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed.,
1975) pp 376-384; of carcinogenic risk: IARC
Monographs 60, 45-71 (1994). Review: K. M. Sundaram et al., in Kirk-Othmer
Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 9 (Wiley-Interscience,
New York, 4th ed., 1994) pp 877-915.
Properties
Colorless gas with faint sweet odor. Burns with
a luminous flame. Solidif -181° forming monoclinic prisms. mp -169.4°, bp700 -102.4°. Vapor
density 0.978 (air = 1.00). One liter of ethylene gas at 760 mm and
0° weighs 1.260 g. bp2 atm -90.8°; bp10 atm -52.8°; bp30 atm -14.2°; bp50 atm 8.9°. d46.5 (liquid): 0.30342. Critical temp +9.6°; crit press. 50.7 atm. Flammable. One volume of ethylene gas dissolves
in about 4 vols of water at 0°, in about 9 vols of water at 25°, in
0.5 vol alcohol at 25°, in about 0.05 vol ether at 15.5°. Sol in
acetone, benzene. Explosive limits (% vol in air), lower: 3.02;
upper: 34. Autoignition temp: 1009°F (+543°C). LC for mice in air: 950,000 ppm (Flury).Caution
Can act as a simple asphyxiant due
to oxygen displacement. Exposure to high concns may cause CNS depression,
unconsciousness. See Patty's Industrial
Hygiene and Toxicology vol. 2B, G. D. Clayton,
F. E. Clayton, Eds. (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 4th ed., 1994)
p 1241-1244.Use
Oxyethylene welding and cutting metals; manuf alcohol,
mustard gas, and many other organics. Manuf ethylene oxide (for plastics), “Polythene”,
polystyrene and other plastics. Plant growth regulator; used commercially
to accelerate the ripening of various fruits.
Therapeutic Category
Anesthetic (inhalation).
Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)
Has been used as inhalation anesthetic.
Keywords
Anesthetic (Inhalation)